<--- Wild Turkey (Modern Animal) Hidden Turkey (Meleagris Absconditus)
The Hidden Turkey (Meleagris Absconditus) is the future descendant of the modern species Meleagris Gallopavo (The Wild Turkey), it is a new species that would establish approximately 24000 years in the future. The latin Absconditus in its scientific name translates to the meaning Hidden and Conceal in modern English. The species got its name from its structural adaptation of being able to blend in with its environment, an area that is covered with a large amount of vegetation, in order to prevent itself from being preyed and providing it with a better chance of escape.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Galliformes
Family
Phasianidae
Subfamily
Meleagridinae
Genus
Meleagris
Species
Absconditus
The Hidden Turkey (Meleagris Absconditus) First Hand Drawing by Jane Yip
Habitat
The Meleagris Absconditus is native to North America like its ancestors: The Wild Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo) and The California Turkey (Meleagris Californica). However unlike the Wild Turkey the Hidden Turkey is only found in one province, Virginia. Located on the edge of the United States the species is widely spread in this province.
Habitat Map Location Labelled by Jane Yip http://media.basspro.com/images/articles/range_map_large.jpg Edited by Jane Yip
The Commonwealth of Virginia is divided into five geological regions which are the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley, Appalachian Plateau, Pidemont and Tidewater. The Hidden Turkey could be found in all five regions but is found more commonly in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Ridge and Valley. Although the species have developed characteristics according to the slightly different areas its habitat is in, it is mostly in common. The Blue Ridge Mountains is an area that is evergreen and when looked down from high in air the mountains appear a bluer shade, hence its name. The flora that could be found in this area include oak and pine trees and sloped forests. It hosts as the habitat for animals such as the Black Bear, Wild boar and Whitetail deer. It has also once been the habitat of the Hidden Turkey's ancestor, the Wild Turkey.
Blue Ridge Mountains (Habitat) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blowing_Rock.jpg
The Ridge and Valley have many significant ridges passing through several provinces. A few major rivers are located there such as the Delaware River. The region have been slowly uplifted, forming the ridges. The middle portion of it is occupied by two large mountain ranges, the Alleghenies and the Cumberlands. The ridges and valleys differ in size and width creating an interesting view. Both areas provide habitats that are natural for plant and animal species.
Another habitat of the Hidden Turkey are the State Parks in Virginia. The areas in the Virginia State Parks would have become protected and more safe for the species to live in during the future. Similar to its ancestor, the Hidden Turkey lives in a large range of forest areas. The Hidden Turkey inhabits in areas with long grass and trees for shelter in order to keep their temperature cool in the warm climate in Virginia and the Mountain ranges. The estimated climate would be -3.3 degree celsius during Winters and up to 25 degree celsius during the Summers. The most common natural disaster in the area are thunderstorms which appear regularly and adds up to approximately 30 days with storm annually.
Forest areas covers up to 65% of the total area of 110 785 kilometres squared. The areas that are lower have denser and more moistured flora that are suited for the Hidden Turkey to make nests. National Parks in the United States of America would also provide 40% of park areas as habitats for National Wildlife.
Ridge and Valley (Habitat) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Bristol_tenn_ridgelines2.jpg
Adaptations Behavioural Adaptation 1 The Hidden Turkey's ancestor the Wild Turkey was only able to lay one egg per day and have to continue for more than a week in order to lay 10 to 12 eggs. The Hidden Turkey have adapted to behaviourally and could lay up to 3 eggs per day and up to 12 eggs every time it lays eggs. This helps speed up the hatching and imprinting that is also a behaviour skill found in its ancestor the Wild Turkey.
With the young poults being given birth to in a more rapid speed and equally having an increase in hatching speed, it is guaranteed that the Hidden Turkey can bring its young away from their nest within a day after all eggs have been hatched and escape possible deaths due to its predators. The environmental pressure of being hunted by animals other than humans have given rise to this behavioural adaptation. Behavioural Adaptation 2 The Hidden Turkey have developed a change in its breeding seasons due to the climate change over the years. As the world have become warmer over the years, the Hidden Turkey no longer breeds during the Spring and early Summer season. The Hidden Turkey breeds in late Autumn till early Winter, around late September to the beginning of December.
The Environmental factor that have caused a the change in breeding seasons is because of the warming climate and the fact that the Hidden Turkey prefers being in a cooler climate and have better growth in cooler temperatures. The young poults would be able to grow more healthily as well. Structural Adaptation 1
Colour of the Hidden Turkey's Feathers Zoom In of Primary Source Drawing by Jane Yip
The colour of the Hidden Turkey's feathers and skin are camouflages with its habitat. Although most areas would have become protected and less dangerous for the Hidden Turkeys to survive, there are still predators that are other than humans who hunt them. The green shades of feathers blends in with the long grass that surrounds the area and its legs are in tones of light brown that are similar to the trunk colour of trees.
The camouflaging colours hides the Hidden Turkey away from its predators and allows it to escape whilst the predator tries to find where it has gone. The latin word Absconditus means Hidden in english and was derived from the feather and leg colours of the Hidden Turkey that blends in with everything else surrounding it.
The Environmental Pressure that created the rose in this adaptation was because its previous ancestor, the Eastern Wild Turkey have been an endangered species due to hunting and in order to escape hunting which sometimes flight speed and running speed could not save them from, being able to camouflage into the background would provide it time to escape when preyed.
The structure of the Hidden Turkey is closely connected to the Firefowl as their ancestors have also been closely linked due to the Wild Turkey and the California Turkey having similar features to the Peafowl. The species Ozzi is also similar in structure despite the large separation geographically. Structural Adaptation 2
Zoom in of Legs First Hand Drawing by Jane Yip
The Hidden Turkey have long and lean legs that have a tree trunk like texture with three claws. The middle claw of the three helps create a balance for the Hidden Turkey and its long lean legs are useful when for running and taking flight with also the ability to blend and hide itself with its texture as mentioned in the Structural Adaptation 1.
This adaptation rose because the Hidden Turkey's body is less plump in contrast with its ancestors. The Envrionmental Pressure that could have given rise to this adaptation is because of the tall grass in which the Hidden Turkey has to run in and therefore longer legs would make it easier for running whilst still hiding the animal within the vegetation. Longer legs also increases speed in both flight and escape which is essential in an area rich with dense vegetation.
Physiological Adaptation
The Hidden Turkey has an efficient respiratory system similar to extinct bird species. However one difference of its respiratory system that has been adapted to the environment would be having larger Abdominal air sacs similar to the size of the lungs which are also larger than previous species. There are two abdominal air sacs that are attached on the left and right lungs. The abdominal air sacs would extend to the bottom of the Hidden Turkey's body slightly above its tail.
Having larger lungs and abdominal air sacs would allow the Hidden Turkey to be more at ease when it takes flight. Compared to the Wild Turkey, the Hidden Turkey uses its flight abilities more as it has a lighter body that would not strain its organs at flight.
The Environmental Pressure that have given a rise to this adaptation would be the need to be able to continue to stay in air despite the climate change and denser humidity within the area in the sky. The Hidden Turkey can extend the time it requires to search for food and not have difficulty with risking death because of lack of air.
Hidden Turkey (Meleagris Absconditus)
The Hidden Turkey (Meleagris Absconditus) is the future descendant of the modern species Meleagris Gallopavo (The Wild Turkey), it is a new species that would establish approximately 24000 years in the future. The latin Absconditus in its scientific name translates to the meaning Hidden and Conceal in modern English. The species got its name from its structural adaptation of being able to blend in with its environment, an area that is covered with a large amount of vegetation, in order to prevent itself from being preyed and providing it with a better chance of escape.
Habitat
The Meleagris Absconditus is native to North America like its ancestors: The Wild Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo) and The California Turkey (Meleagris Californica). However unlike the Wild Turkey the Hidden Turkey is only found in one province, Virginia. Located on the edge of the United States the species is widely spread in this province.
The Commonwealth of Virginia is divided into five geological regions which are the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley, Appalachian Plateau, Pidemont and Tidewater. The Hidden Turkey could be found in all five regions but is found more commonly in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Ridge and Valley. Although the species have developed characteristics according to the slightly different areas its habitat is in, it is mostly in common. The Blue Ridge Mountains is an area that is evergreen and when looked down from high in air the mountains appear a bluer shade, hence its name. The flora that could be found in this area include oak and pine trees and sloped forests. It hosts as the habitat for animals such as the Black Bear, Wild boar and Whitetail deer. It has also once been the habitat of the Hidden Turkey's ancestor, the Wild Turkey.
The Ridge and Valley have many significant ridges passing through several provinces. A few major rivers are located there such as the Delaware River. The region have been slowly uplifted, forming the ridges. The middle portion of it is occupied by two large mountain ranges, the Alleghenies and the Cumberlands. The ridges and valleys differ in size and width creating an interesting view. Both areas provide habitats that are natural for plant and animal species.
Another habitat of the Hidden Turkey are the State Parks in Virginia. The areas in the Virginia State Parks would have become protected and more safe for the species to live in during the future. Similar to its ancestor, the Hidden Turkey lives in a large range of forest areas. The Hidden Turkey inhabits in areas with long grass and trees for shelter in order to keep their temperature cool in the warm climate in Virginia and the Mountain ranges. The estimated climate would be -3.3 degree celsius during Winters and up to 25 degree celsius during the Summers. The most common natural disaster in the area are thunderstorms which appear regularly and adds up to approximately 30 days with storm annually.
Forest areas covers up to 65% of the total area of 110 785 kilometres squared. The areas that are lower have denser and more moistured flora that are suited for the Hidden Turkey to make nests. National Parks in the United States of America would also provide 40% of park areas as habitats for National Wildlife.
Adaptations
Behavioural Adaptation 1
The Hidden Turkey's ancestor the Wild Turkey was only able to lay one egg per day and have to continue for more than a week in order to lay 10 to 12 eggs. The Hidden Turkey have adapted to behaviourally and could lay up to 3 eggs per day and up to 12 eggs every time it lays eggs. This helps speed up the hatching and imprinting that is also a behaviour skill found in its ancestor the Wild Turkey.
With the young poults being given birth to in a more rapid speed and equally having an increase in hatching speed, it is guaranteed that the Hidden Turkey can bring its young away from their nest within a day after all eggs have been hatched and escape possible deaths due to its predators. The environmental pressure of being hunted by animals other than humans have given rise to this behavioural adaptation.
Behavioural Adaptation 2
The Hidden Turkey have developed a change in its breeding seasons due to the climate change over the years. As the world have become warmer over the years, the Hidden Turkey no longer breeds during the Spring and early Summer season. The Hidden Turkey breeds in late Autumn till early Winter, around late September to the beginning of December.
The Environmental factor that have caused a the change in breeding seasons is because of the warming climate and the fact that the Hidden Turkey prefers being in a cooler climate and have better growth in cooler temperatures. The young poults would be able to grow more healthily as well.
Structural Adaptation 1
The colour of the Hidden Turkey's feathers and skin are camouflages with its habitat. Although most areas would have become protected and less dangerous for the Hidden Turkeys to survive, there are still predators that are other than humans who hunt them. The green shades of feathers blends in with the long grass that surrounds the area and its legs are in tones of light brown that are similar to the trunk colour of trees.
The camouflaging colours hides the Hidden Turkey away from its predators and allows it to escape whilst the predator tries to find where it has gone. The latin word Absconditus means Hidden in english and was derived from the feather and leg colours of the Hidden Turkey that blends in with everything else surrounding it.
The Environmental Pressure that created the rose in this adaptation was because its previous ancestor, the Eastern Wild Turkey have been an endangered species due to hunting and in order to escape hunting which sometimes flight speed and running speed could not save them from, being able to camouflage into the background would provide it time to escape when preyed.
The structure of the Hidden Turkey is closely connected to the Firefowl as their ancestors have also been closely linked due to the Wild Turkey and the California Turkey having similar features to the Peafowl. The species Ozzi is also similar in structure despite the large separation geographically.
Structural Adaptation 2
The Hidden Turkey have long and lean legs that have a tree trunk like texture with three claws. The middle claw of the three helps create a balance for the Hidden Turkey and its long lean legs are useful when for running and taking flight with also the ability to blend and hide itself with its texture as mentioned in the Structural Adaptation 1.
This adaptation rose because the Hidden Turkey's body is less plump in contrast with its ancestors. The Envrionmental Pressure that could have given rise to this adaptation is because of the tall grass in which the Hidden Turkey has to run in and therefore longer legs would make it easier for running whilst still hiding the animal within the vegetation. Longer legs also increases speed in both flight and escape which is essential in an area rich with dense vegetation.
Physiological Adaptation
The Hidden Turkey has an efficient respiratory system similar to extinct bird species. However one difference of its respiratory system that has been adapted to the environment would be having larger Abdominal air sacs similar to the size of the lungs which are also larger than previous species. There are two abdominal air sacs that are attached on the left and right lungs. The abdominal air sacs would extend to the bottom of the Hidden Turkey's body slightly above its tail.
Having larger lungs and abdominal air sacs would allow the Hidden Turkey to be more at ease when it takes flight. Compared to the Wild Turkey, the Hidden Turkey uses its flight abilities more as it has a lighter body that would not strain its organs at flight.
The Environmental Pressure that have given a rise to this adaptation would be the need to be able to continue to stay in air despite the climate change and denser humidity within the area in the sky. The Hidden Turkey can extend the time it requires to search for food and not have difficulty with risking death because of lack of air.
Bibliography
About North Georgia. (2010). Blue Ridge Mountains. Retrieved July 28, 2010, from http://ngeorgia.com/ang/Blue_Ridge_Mountains
Wikipedia. (2010). Blue Ridge Mountains. Retrieved July 28, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ridge_Mountains
Wikipedia. (2010). Ridge and Valley. Retrieved July 28, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridge-and-Valley_Appalachians
Wikipedia. (2010). Virginia. Retrieved July 28, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. (2010). Virginia State Parks. Retrieved July 29, 2010, from http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/state_park.shtml
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